Senior Counsel

Sodexo is in search of Corporate Counsel to serve as a key legal partner to senior executives and operational leaders across the organization. This attorney will be responsible for drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of commercial and operational contracts, providing timely and strategic legal advice, and ensuring that business practices are legally sound and aligned with organizational objectives. The role requires strong business acumen, excellent judgment, and the ability to build trusted relationships with both legal and non-legal stakeholders.

This is a hybrid position that requires in-office work 2 to 3 full days per week in the company’s North Bethesda offices.

 The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 4 years of experience (a) advising on a wide range of corporate, business, and contract matters, including business operations under various types of client and vendor contracts and (b) working with cross-functional groups within an organization, including Finance, Treasury, Tax, Accounting, HR, Risk Management, and other members of the Legal Department (contract specialists, paralegals, and other attorneys).

You will be responsible for a wide array of corporate and commercial matters. We're looking for a business-minded attorney who can act as a utility player for a high-performing legal team. 

Key responsibilities include:

• Proactively advise senior executives, management, and operational teams on legal risks and strategic considerations in day-to-day business activities.

• Identify potential legal and regulatory risks in business operations and propose proactive mitigation strategies. Partner with finance, procurement, human resources, compliance, IT, and other departments to align legal support with business needs.

• Provide training to business teams on contract best practices, negotiation strategies, and legal risk awareness.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of contracts, including client contracts, vendor agreements, service agreements, technology and licensing agreements, confidentiality agreements, consulting arrangements, and other operational contracts.
• Ensure contractual terms appropriately allocate risk, comply with applicable laws, and align with business goals.

Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
• 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement

More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.

Is this opportunity right for you? We are looking for candidates who have:

• JD degree with relevant experience in corporate and commercial transactions, admitted to practice and in good standing in at least one U.S. state or the District of Columbia.
• Minimum 4 years of law firm experience preferred; relevant in-house experience a plus.
• Corporate, contracting, commercial transactions, M&A, or similar transactional experience that provides exposure across a wide range of corporate issues and familiarity with various types of agreements and practice areas.
• Ability to work independently, managing your own workload and relationships with internal clients and serving as a de facto general counsel to one or more business segments.
• Ability to translate complex legal issues to business partners and provide a balanced and practical approach to legal drafting and problem solving.
• Proven ability to handle multiple projects and prioritize and meet deadlines within a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to deal effectively with individuals at all organizational levels.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, including clear and effective written and verbal communication skills, negotiating skills, and strong legal drafting abilities.

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.

Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need assistance with the application process, please complete this form.

Minimum Education Requirement - Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or LL.M. (Master of Laws)
Minimum Functional Experience - 7 years of experience as a practicing attorney